Complete Off-Road N00b

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Karma :

Hello

Recently managed to purchase a Yamaha XT225, however I've no idea what else I'm going to need (i.e. gear etc...) as I'm currently riding in road lid & textiles.

I'm thinking:

Helmet

Armour

Any thing else and also wheres the best place to be looking for the above?

Also having taken a look at what trails I can ride in the area (e.g. not a lot i.e. roughly about 700 meters in West Sussex) anyone got any good ideas where to head?

Finally, the XT has a set of Pirelli Scorpians on, are these road legal tyres?

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Kit you'll be wanting a MX lid, goggles, boots, upper body armour, shin & knee pads, gloves. MX jeans & jersey are also worth having I'd say. The armour and boots are the bits you'll appreciate most I expect, lid & goggles will be much better than using your road lid with a visor as well.

There's this place near Stockley Park which has plently of stock.

What trails you can ride, best bet is to get yourself an OS map of the area then find the byways which are marked as + + + + + +. Newlands Corner is a good place for going to get on the North Downs Way.

Not sure about the legality of your tyres though.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Knee armour as well as body armour.
Gloves (are cheap).
Boots - good for not mashing your lower leg

I got most of my kit by going to the offroad show and trying /everything/ on, much to Bendy's disdain. Bit far off, so try J&S who seem to have a not too bad selection, also your local off road shop should have some selection.

There's some good lanes around Boxhill.

First few times I did it was in one piece leathers and other road kit, didn't seem to be a big problem apart from getting a tad hot!

garyd · Brolly Dolly Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Scorpions are legal,standard on KTM

garyd · Brolly Dolly Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Scorpions are legal,standard on KTM

KTM Gordo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

If you want to find out where you can ride, and have some people to ride with, you could join the TRF and get to know your local group.

As for kit, then a MX helmet and goggles is a lot better than a full-face helmet which will mist up as off-tarmac riding is hard work and you will get hot and sweaty.

Armour and lots of it. Knees are particularly vulnerable. A good pair of MX boots are essential too - it can save a lot of pain when the 'bike falls on you.

HTH Smile

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